Posted by Corey Latham on April 23, 2008, 1:30 pm
Board Administrator

Radford, VA ~ As I rode back from the UARA race at Motor Mile Speedway, I reflected back on the great race I just witnessed, the stellar field and the most beautiful short track one can find. I also reflected on something else, why in the world was I sitting there by myself. For years you have had to go see your stars of Late-Model racing at various tracks they raced at exclusively. If you wanted to see David Blankenship race, you had to be at either South Boston or Orange County. Mike Skinner, Bobby Labonte or Steve Loftlin, go to Caraway. Matt Carter or Andy Loden, be at Hickory. Now we have the UARA, the first traveling Late-Model series of it's kind in the south. They race all around the S.C., N.C., VA. area, giving the fans and drivers what they have always wanted, all the best the Late-Model world has to offer on the track, at a different venue each week. At least it's for sure that the drivers held up their end of the "wants". The first race of the year at Concord saw nearly 45 cars there, with 38 taking time for the 28 car field. Granted, the weather was not the best, but then again what kind of "real" racefan doesn't go to the track because it "looks" like it's going to rain. I sat there and witnessed a great race, lots of comers and goers, and a green-white-checkered finish to top it all off. Low-and-behold though, the crowd was scarce to put it nicely. Moving on to Motor Mile, the weather was a little breezy, but otherwise fantastic. The track itself rivals ones on the Cup level as far as facilities, and once again we had a full field of 29 Late-models. As I stood on pit road during the autograph session before the race, I took a moment and looked at the fans on pit road and in the stands. It made me really feel for ther drivers most, they are some of the best up and coming drivers in the country and they were all alone, not talking with fans but talking with crew and family. Nobody had came to see them, but being the racecar drivers they are, they shrugged it off and put on one of the best shows Motor Mile will see all season in my opinion. Too bad a lot of people missed it I really am disgusted at the situation the UARA is having with the attendance issue. There are many reasons why this could be happening. The economy is pretty much shot right now. You almost have to take out a loan to afford gas. The weather the first few race weeks for every track in the south has been less than desireable. I know these things affect some tremendously, but I also have been around racing all my life and know how passoinate racefans in the south are, we find a way to go to the racetrack. Or maybe they used to be like that. Fans want good racing. UARA offers that for sure. Fans want a timely, well-run show. UARA has that. Most of all, fans want big name drivers. UARA has the best around. Jamey Caudill will be known as a legend when it's all over with in the south, if not already. Alex Yontz has won Martinsville, Bristol, and drove in the ARCA series last year for Richard Childress. Larry MacReynolds has his son Brandon racing there. So does 2-time Busch Champion Randy Lajoie, his son Corey. Even the golden child of all things racing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has two cars there every race with Richard Boswell and Curtis Truex Jr. This past weeks winner B.J. Mackey has won in everthing he's ever sat in. 2007 Champion Ross Furr, young guns Jake Crum, Darrell Wallace Jr., Andrew Carlsen, Clint Mills, Clay Greenfield, the list goes on, they are all there on raceday. The point is that most local tracks have 3-5 "good" cars, and they rest are fighting for whats left. UARA has 20+ "good" cars with the other 8 ready to have thier day at any given time. But still, you don't show support. Try it, if you don't like it don't come back. I think you will. Just support any track if not the series, they are all hurting. If you don't, they will go away. And then everybody will be whining about not racing, the same way they were whining a few years ago about not having a touring series. Now who's gonna sit with me at Orange County? See ya at the races.......I hope.